Harry Godfrey out of rugby for several months with ruptured ACL injury

Hawke's Bay Magpies first five-eighths Harry Godfrey, now out of action with injury, pictured being tackled by Counties Manukau fullback Etene Nanai-Seturo, at McLean Park in August. Photo / Kerry Marshall

Star Hawke’s Bay Magpies rugby player Harry Godfrey will miss Saturday’s Bunnings Warehouse NPC quarter-final and possibly the 2026 Super Rugby season.

The 22-year-old Hurricanes Super Rugby player ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in Magpies training for the match against Auckland on September 25.

“Harry will undergo surgery, ruling him out for the rest of the Magpies campaign and into the Hurricanes Super Rugby season,” Hawke’s Bay Rugby said.

“We know all you Magpies and Hurricanes fans will be wishing him a speedy recovery and we all look forward to seeing him back on the field after his rehabilitation,” it said.

Hurricanes head coach Clark Laidlaw said Godfrey is expected to be unavailable for the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season.

“It was pretty obvious last year that Harry was stepping up to become a real valued member of the squad. The way he was playing in the NPC this year, I think you could see that maturity was starting to come.

“We will support him post-operation at the end of the month. I’m sure he’ll be back bigger and better and stronger.”

Godfrey was earlier this year touted as a possible addition to the All Blacks squad options, and national second-string side the All Blacks XV for two matches in the United Kingdom next month.

At the time of the match against Auckland, Godfrey, a first five-eighths and fullback, had already been out for two games with injury.

He was to have made his return in the match, having been the hero of a one-point win over Auckland at McLean Park 12 months earlier.

The No 10 jersey has been worn in Godfrey’s absence by Lincoln McClutchie, who has played in more than 80 games for the Magpies since 2018, for more than 500 points.

Head coach Brock James has otherwise been able to name a near full-strength team.

Hooker and co-captain Jacob Devery and centre Nick Grigg return to the starting line-up.

HBR chief executive Jay Campbell described interest in the match as “incredible” with almost 1000 tickets sold in the hours after public sales opened on Tuesday.

“Hospitality is also being snapped up and we are certainly on target to have our largest crowd of the year with the weather playing its part for Saturday night,” he said.

The Hawke’s Bay Magpies team for the Bunnings Warehouse NPC quarterfinal against Taranaki at McLean Park, Napier, on Saturday, starting at 7.10pm, is: Pouri Rakete-Stones, Jacob Devery (co-captain), Joe Apikotoa; Geoff Cridge, Tom Parsons (captain); Miracle Fai’ilagi, Sam Smith; Devan Flanders (vice-captain); Folau Fakatava, Lincoln McClutchie; Neria Fomai, Le Roux Malan, Nick Grigg, Jonah Lowe; Zarn Sullivan.

Reserves: Kianu Kereru-Symes, Hadlee Hay-Horton, Manahi Goulton, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Frank Lochore; Ereatara Enari, Anaru Paenga-Morgan, Andrew Tauatevalu.

Doug Laing has been a journalist for more than 50 years, covering most aspects of news, including rugby and other sports.